Elevator.



No. 648,4I0. Patented May I, 1900. l J. M. HOWARD.

ELEVATUR.

' (Application med ont. 9, 1899: (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR: gggg Jmwwl Mw Zmga @Wi/qw c, YM: mums Pneus cu PnoTo-Lrrwo.www1-Jon. u

Patented May l, |900.

J. M1. HOWARD.

ELEVTR.

(Applicmon med oct. 9, 1899:

l 4 Sheets-Sheet `3..

(No Model.)

INVENTOI LTorz lzmm WITNE, 5 5&5

No. 648,4l0, l Patented May l, |900.

J. M. HOWARD.

ELEVATUR.

(No Model.) (Application filed Oct. 9, 1 899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TH: Nonms Pinzas co, Pnovmmmo.4 wsumarou. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JOIIN n. HOWARD, OE OIIIOAGO,l ILLINOIS.

ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 648,410, dated May 1,19oo. Application filed October 9, 1839. Serial No. 733,049. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHNM. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, of which thefollowing is a specification. f

My invention relates more especially to that class or style of elevatorsin which buckets, nights, or other attachments on endless belts, ropes,or chains furnish the means for elevating the article or material to behoisted and which are primarily designed for the lhoisting of cereals,coal, and other similar` freight; but the invention is adapted for useand can be used with other classes or styles of elevators.

The objects of the invention are the saving of power and giving anincreased/force or lift by applying the power almost direct to thesurface of the endless carrier, on theinside there- Of, so `as to havealmost a direct lift on such carrier in the direction of movement; thedistribution of the load equally on two bearings, thereby giving anincreased saving in4 the applied power which would otherwise be lost inthe strain on numerous bearings; the driving of the head-wheel withoutdisturbance to the Original set and permanent true lines of such wheelwith the elevator-leg, thereby maintaining the beltV in true lines ofrunor travel; the saving of space by locating the driving mechanism forthe endless carrier wholly within Ithe inclosing hood of theelevator-head, protecting the driving mechanism against the admission ofgrit or other substances that would interfere with the easy Operation ofthe parts; the reducing of speed directly through the head-wheel byapplying the'driving power to the periphery of said wheel, employing asmall driving-pinion for that purpose; the removing of nearly alltorsion on the shaft of the head-wheel and decreasing the loss of powerfrom friction on the bearings of the shaft and othewise, and the savingof labor and expenses by so mounting the head-wheel that the wheelitselfneeds no adjusting and having all the adjustments desired made in thedriver for such wheel and this without any interference with the trueline of the wheel with the elevator leg or casin g. Y

Other objects will also appear from the description. f

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompany drawings various modifications are illustrated forcarrying out the objects and purposes of my invention; but in all casesthe principal feature of the invention is embodied, which'consists inproviding a drum or rim over which the endless carrier runs and by whichsuch carrier is driven and applying the power internally and direct tothe inner surface or face of such drum or rim and in approximately adirect line with the lift or travel of the carrier.

Figure l is a top or plan view showing the cross timbers or supports ofan elevator-head with my invention or improvement mounted thereon; Fig.2, a side elevation of the arrangement and pari-s shown in Fig. l; Fig.3, a top or plan view likewise showing the timbers or supports of anelevator-head and showing anarrangement for imparting power tO .the drumor rim by means of a gear-pinion driven by friction and regulating thepower yto correspond to the load; Fig. et, a side elevation of thearrangement and parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a top or plan viewshowing the timbers or supports of an elevator-head and showing a drinnor rim with a friction driving-pinion for imparting power to the drum orrim; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the arrangementand parts shown in Fig.5; Fig. 7, an end elevation of the arrangement and parts shown in Fig.5; Fig. 8, a side elevation showing an arrangement of friction-wheels,bearing-wheels, and pinion for driving the drum or rim; Fig. 9, a sideelevation showing a gear-pinion for driving the drum. or rim and asupporting roller or idler for maintaining the drum or rim in position.Fig. 10 is a central sectional elevation showing two gearpinions, .oneon each side and a central roller or idler on the plan of Fig. 9; Fig.1l, a central section showing two rollers or idlers, one on each side,and a central gear-pinion on the plan of Fig.` 9; Fig. 12, a sideelevation showing an arrangement for applyinga brake-shoe or clutch-dogand stopping backward rotation of the head-wheel, and Fig'. 13 a sideelevation showing a brake band or belt applied to IOO atedelectrically.'

In illustrating and describing my invention I'have only deemed itnecessary to illustrate so much of an elevator as is necessary toclearly point out theinvention and will only describe such parts as arenecessary for the purpose of having the invention understood,

and for thisreason only two of the upper sup porting-timbers of anelevator-head are allr that is deemed necessary to show and describe inconnection withk my improve-ment.-

In constructing my invention or improve-V` ments as illustrated in Figs.l and 2 I provide adrum or rim A, having its shaft c mounted in'suitableboxes or supports a', common only tothe shaft ofthe drumor rim andbolted or otherwise securedto supports or timber-sA', which'may be thetimbersat th'etop or head of an ordinary .grain-elevator. The top orheadhas the usual casing A2 surroundingthe head-.wheel and the endlesscarrier, as usual."

The endless carrierB may be of the ordinary forinofendless-belt carrierorotherwise, prolvided with buckets or iiights and runningoverthe-periphery or outer face of the drum orfrin to be driven by therevolving of theT drum or rim,` as usual.v A pinion C on a shaftv c, 1nou nted in a suitable journal box or sup-f.

port-d, isarranged to mesh with an internal* gear'p onthe drum or rim,bywhi'ch arrange-A ment'thel power for'driving thedrum or 'rim isapplied in close yproximity to the trayel'of" the endless ca rrier, 'soas to act in almosta direct line on such carrier.` The `shaftjnc hassecured thereto'a gear or driver E, with which .meshesa pinion F on thelshaft of a dynamo y G, supportedon a base or plate G', bolted `tothetimbers orscross-piecesA.' The dynamo isfpreferably'of thattype whichis sparkless but other formsof lmotor or driver than ani-electric motorcan be used.

l Th motor, -if an electric one, isto be con-Y nected with an electriccircuit in any usual and: well-known manner, and when the motor is vinoperation the'pinion on its shaft mesh` ing `with'the gear'or driver F.drives the same,

which in turn rotates the shaft c and gearpinion 0, drivin'gthe drumorrim A through thejinternal gear D, andthe rotation of the drum or rimimparts movement to the endg less carrielgoperating such carrier toraise the material carried inthe buckets or fliglits'and dump suchmaterial, whetherV grain or somel otherarticle, in the usual andwell-known manner.

The inven the leed. thefeef is Pbjeienabliin ,that it causes moreV orless strain-on the shaft'fronr the relation of thepower and load, andcon- This practice of mountingthe head-wheel on a shaft and applyingpowerto,

pinion@ with the internal gear D, applies the. power directly to thedrum or rim instead ofto the shaft of such drum or rim, and by thus"applying the power no twisting or torsion-onthe head-wheel or drum orof its shaft Avcan, possibly be had and the shaft and wheel In additionthe lift or power isfapplied -almost di' will run true and even at alltimes.

rectly to the inside surface of the endless carrier, vas the pointofapplying and the point of receiving thep'ower, are separated onlybythe thickness of the'wall of the'drum .or rim;`so

that in'eifect the liftl is inthe direct 'lineof the travel of thecarrier' and notkat one side of such line, as with the old varrangementof driving' endless carriers from a central shaft. This'direct-linedrivingfmakes a great'saving in power and valsoapplies thepower precisely at the point where it will be the mosteffe'ctive and dothe most work. By havingthe power transmitted tothe drum or rim'direct asmall 4driving gear-.pinion may b e employed and a high-speed motor usedfor imparting .the power, which is a great. advantage, asfit permitsthemotor'to be located' adjacent to the head-wheel, making a saving ofspace :in the'elevator-head, as well as locating themeL tor in the bestpossible position for use.

, Itis desirable in some cases to`have the applicationof the powercorrespond tothe load and have the load regulate and govern thepower,and an arrangement to this end is illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4, inwhich'the drum'for rim, the endless carrier, the driving gear-pinion,and the internalgear are the same asalready described for theconstruction of- Figs. l and 2 except that the shaft ais not mount ed instationary journal boxes or supports.

The shaft a ismounted'in a boxor sleeve a2, having extending out fromlone side, thereof arms I-I, pivoted yon a standard or post'h on a plateh', bolted to the timbers A. An VarmV I-I extends out from the oppositeside of the 'box or sleeve cand has connected therewith a rod I, thelower end of which entersV one of a series 'of holes in an arm J, whicharmprojects outffromashaft K, mounted in suitablev f boxes or supports7c on the under side of the tion is specially .applicablefor u se yingrain-elevators, .where the oldpractice has been to mount the head-wheeleither sin` timbers A'. A suspending support, consisting of the arms-H,arm II', rod I, and arm J,

is provided for each sideof the drum or rim,

and the holes t' furnish an adjustment between the arms forpressure-applyingpurf poses.

Exten'dingup from the shaft Kand standing at right angles to the armJ isana'rm J',

`the upper end of which has a bearing j', in

which is mounted a stud or trunnion j,.car

rying a wheel L, between which wheel and a IOO IIO

wheel M is located afriction-gearNona driving-shaft n. The friction-gearcontacts with the outer face Z of the wheel L and with the inner face mof the wheel M, and the amount of power or force exerted for driving thewheel M will depend upon the pressure of the wheel L on thedriving-pinion N, which pressure is regulated by the load and theadjustment of the rod I forward or back in the holes z'.

The wheel M isl mounted on the shaft c of the driving gear-pinion C, sothat the rotation of the wheel M drives the gear-pinion and impartsrotation to the drum or rim, as already described for theprevious'construction of Figs. 1 and 2, to drive the belt or endlesscarrier and cause it to travel as required for use.

The amount of friction on the driving-pinion N is regulated andcontrolled by the load and the leverage through the rod I. The drum orrim mounted in the arms H with a light load will bear down but little,and consequently the depression of the arms will be slight, and suchdepression will through the connecting-rod and the L-lever, formed bythe arms J and J carry the wheel L forward, so as to impinge with butlittle force on the periphery of the driving-pinion, exerting acorresponding slight force on the driver M to be transmitted to thedriving gear-pinion C for the load. An increase of load produces acorresponding increase of weight'and a consequent depressing of the armsI-I, which through the rod I and the L-lever forces the friction-wheel Lwith greater pressure against the friction-pinion, giving such pinionincreased power on the driver M to be transmitted to the gear-pinion Cand the drum or rim. It will thus be seen that with this arrangement theload and power automatically conform to each other, a light loadresulting in a light power and a heavy load resulting in an increasedpower. At the same time the full benefit and advantage of a direct lineofY lift on the endless carrier is had through the internal gear anddriving gearpinion, the

same as with the construction of Figs. l and 2.-

Various applications of power are adaptable for use with the leadingfeature of my invention, which is applyingl the power di rectly to theinnersurface or face of the carrier drum or rim, so as to haveapproximately carrying or friction wheel D,with a space between itsexterior face and the interior face of the drum or rim, in which islocated a friction-gear C', mounted on a shaft c in a suitable box orsupport c'. The carrying or friction wheel D has its shaft d mounted ina suitable box or support d on a plate d2, which plate also carries thebox c', so that the two shafts are stationary or fixed in relation toeach other. A supporting roller or idler E has its shaft or journal cmounted in a slotf of an arm F, so that the periphery of the roller oridler :runs in contact with the inner face of the drum or rim', and, asshown, the drum or rim has a central groove, and the roller or idler hasa central iiange entering` the groove with a face on each side of theange to bear against the face of the drum or rim.

The roller or idler engages and su pports the drum or rim, and the drumor rim is rotated through the friction-gear C, such gear and the rolleror idler, with the central carrying or friction wheel, furnishingasupport for the drum or rim, by which it is free to be revolved anddrive or travel the endless carrier or belt. The roller or idler notonly supports the drum or rim, but it also assists in driving the same,as it will be rotated by the drum or rim and the carrying-wheel, andsuch rotation drives the drum or rim. It will be seen that with thisarrangement if the pinion slips on the drum or rim no stoppage or backmovement can occur, as the carrying-wheel acts to drive the supportingroller or idler, which in turn drives the drum or rim. This is'anadvantage, as it insures the driving of the drum or rim at all times,even if the pinion slips, and more than one supporting roller or idlercan be provided if desired or necessary.

A modification in driving by friction, using a drum or rim and drivingfrom the inside direct thereon without spokes and a hub or center, isshownin Fig. 8, in which a frictionpinion C', having its shaft c drivenin any suitable manner, drives the friction-wheels E2. The shaft of eachfriction-wheel has thereon a roller F2, which contacts with the innerface of the drum or rim., The endless carrier or belt travels over theouter face of the drum or rim, and the load pressing down on the rollersor supporting-wheels F2 has a tendency to crowd such rollers inward, andas the rollers are on the shafts of the frictionwheels and such shaftsaremounted in movable bearings it will be seen that the pressure of thedrum or rim on the supporting rollers or wheels 'is according to theload, and consequently the friction between the driving-pinion and thefriction-wheels is increased or decreased according to the weight of theload, thereby furnishing the power proportionate to the load.

Another modification in driving the drum or rim, having no spokes andhub or center, is shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 1l, in which a drivinggear-pinion C, meshing with an internal gear D, and a supporting rolleror idler E', are provided. As shown in Fig. l0, asingle centralsupporting roller or idler is provided, and two driving gear-pinions,one on each side of the supporting-roller, are used,

IOO

IIO

vand,`as shown' in Fig. 11, a single drivingpinion at the center ofthedrum or rim and a supporting roller or idler' on each side of thecentral gear are used.

A backward rotation of the drum or rim would or mi'ght produce injuriousefects, and to prevent such rotation means should beemployed to engagethe drum or rim and prev ve-nt any backward travelthereon.

[A brake and a controlling mechanism and an arrangement for this purposeare shown in Fig. 13. The gear or driver E has an internal gearinsteadof an external, and the driving gear-pinion F of the motor meshestherewith, as in the construction of Figs. l and 2. A brake-band P,having blocks of wood Vor other suitable material, encircles the periph-'eryot' the driver E and is supported on one side, as shown, by a postor upright Q with aflexibleconnection q; The ends of the band areattached to a lever R on the opposite sides of the standard or support?lof such lever, andthe lever carries a weight R', which can be adjustedforward or back, as required for the amount of pressure to be exerted bythe brake-band. Anv armature S ,is connected to the lever RV and coactswith a magnet S', connected by wires s and s with an electric circuit,so that with the breakage of such circuit, either by stopping theelectric motor when used for the power or otherwise, the magnet becomesdenergized, allowing the armature to drop and the lever to be carrieddown by the weight and apply the brakeband, andl with the starting ofthe motor or by making the circuit in some other manner themagnet isenergized and the armature moved up,4 raising the lever with its weightyand releasing the brake-band. As shown in Fig. 4, a clutch-dog orbrakeshoe T is mounted loosely on the shaft Kland has an arm or lever Ton which is a weight-- ,'which is adjustable so as to change thepressure of thel dog or shoe against the face of. the drum or rim. Theforward rotation of Athe drum or rim is not interfered with by the` dogor shoe; but with the backward rotation the face of the drum or rimcontacts the face -to interfere with the forward rotation of such drum;but with any backward rotation the arm U is carried toward a centralposition and through the rod u forces the dog or shoe in contact withthe drum or rim, so as to effectually stop any backward rotation. Eitherarrangement of clutch-dog or brake-shoeor the arrangement of thebrake-band will be foundv effectual for preventing backward rotation ofthe drum or rim; f

What I regard asnew, and desire\to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y I 1.In an elevator,the combination o f an endless carrier, a revoluble drumor rim ,over which the carrier runsv and Aby which it is moved, andVmeans for applying power. internally and directly to the inner surfaceor face of the drum or rim, for the transmission .of the lift or pull onthe endless carrier to be approximately in the straight line or. planeof travel of the inner surface of the carrier and atV the line ofinitial engagement of the drum or rim and the carrier on the loadedside, substantially as described. l f

2. In an.elevator,the combination ofan endless carrier, a revoluble drumor rim on the periphery of which the belt travels, and a drivin g-pinionapplying power internally and directly tothe inner `surface or vfaceofthe drum yor rim, for transmitting a direct lift or pull to theendless carrier approximately in the straight line or planeof travel ofthe inner surface at the line of initial engagement of the drum or rimand the carrier on the loaded side,'substantiallly as'described.

3. In an elevator,the combination of an endless carrier or belt providedwith buckets, a revoluble drum on the periphery of which the carrier orbelt travels, a driving-pinion for applying power internally anddirectly'to the 1in-ner surface or face of the drum or rim on the loadedside, for-transmitting a direct lift or pulll to the endless carrier orbelt approximately in the straight line or plane of the travel of theinnersurface'thereof at the line of initial engagement of the drum orrim and the carrier or belt, "and a driver for the pinits I mediately onthe inner surface orfaceof, the

drum or rim, transmitting a direct lift or pull to the endless carrieror belt approximately `in the straight line or plane of travel of theinner surface thereof at the line of initial engagement of the drum orrim and the carrier or belt, and an electric or high-"speed motor 5. Inan elevator, the combination of anendless 'carrieror belt, a revolubledrum or rim, `a fixed shaft on which the drum or rim is mounted, and apower-transmitting pinion between the -ixed shaft and the interiorsurface or face of the drum or rim and in engagement therewith on theloadedsidefor the resistance of theload to operateand regulate thepower, substantially as described.

6l In anelevator, the combination of an end- IOO IIO

. fordriving the drum or rim and reducing the speed Vby directconnectionl of the pinion with 'the drum or rim dispensing withintermediate speed-reducing mechanism between the pinion and the maindriver, substantially as described.

648,410 i e j less carrier-belt, adruxn or rim over which the belt runsand by which it is driven, and a drivin g-pinion applying powerinternally and direct to the inner surface 0r face of the drum or rim ina forward direction with the travel of the belt at the junction-point ofthe belt and the drurn or rim on the loaded side and against the weightor resistance of the loaded side of the belt for increasing theeffective force exerted, substantially as described.

7. In an elevator,the combination of an endless carrier-belt, arevoluble drum or riin over which the belt runs and by which it istraveled and a driving-pinion internally and directly engaging the innersurface or face of the drum or rirn adjacent to the loaded side and inthe line extending between the center of the drum or rim and thejunction-point of engagement of the belt with the drum or rim for givinga direct line pull or lift in a straight forward direction on theendless belt,

substantially as described. f

8. In an elevator,the combination of an endless carrier-belt, arevolnble drum or rim over which the belt runs and by which it istraveled, a shaft on which the drum or rim is mounted, a pinion locatedin line with the shaft and the junction-point of initial engagement ofthe carrier-belt with the drum or rim on its loaded side arranged tointernally and directly engage the inner surface 4or face of the drum orrim and apply a direct-line lift or pull on the carrier-belt at theinner surface and against the weight or resistance of the load,substantially as described.

9. In an elevator, the combination of an endless carrier-belt, a drum orrim over which the belt runs and by which it is driven and meansinternally and directly engaging the inner surface or face of the drumor rim and proportionately to the carried load of the belt andtransmitting power direct to the rim on the loaded side against theweight or resistance of the load accordingly as the load is heavy orlight creating a varyin g direct pressure and frictional contact anddrive for the drum or rim, substantially as described.

10. In an elevator, the combination lof an endless carrier-belt, arevoluble drum or rim over which the belt runs and by which it istraveled and a power-transmitting means internally and directlyoperating on the inner surface or face of the drum or rim in a forwarddirection with the travel of the load of the belt and in the directionof the line of pull coinciding with the plane of the inner surface ofthe belt on the loaded side for giving the power the benefit of theweight or resistance of the load, substantially as described.

JOHN M. HOWARD. lVitnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, BELLE W; BARRY.

